WASECA — A Waseca man has been charged with felony insurance fraud after an investigation into a 2005 incident.

Leon Edward Ritchie, 62, faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a $20,000 fine if convicted.

On Feb. 28, 2005, the man who would end up becoming Ritchie’s accomplice was driving near County Roads 7 and 10 on his way to Waseca from Morristown.

Ritchie was following the accomplice, who has not been charged in this case, as part of a two car-caravan.

According to the criminal complaint, the accomplice saw Ritchie’s vehicle leave the road and he turned around to help. It appeared that Ritchie was having a seizure.

The accomplice drove into town for assistance and came back with a tow truck to pull the vehicle out of the ditch. At the same time a call was sent out to the Waseca County Sheriff’s Office with Chief Deputy Brad Milbrath responding to the call.

According to the complaint, Ritchie told Milbrath that he had hit some ice on the road and slid into the ditch. He did not claim or report any injuries.

Milbrath did not generate a police report but did note in an administrative blotter that he did not see any ice on the roadway within 200 feet of the vehicle.

On Nov. 19, 2007, the accomplice came forward and spoke with an investigator with Ritchie’s insurance company.

According to the accomplice, after the 2005 incident, Ritchie approached him with a plan and convinced the accomplice to claim he was a passenger in the vehicle and had sustained injuries as a result of the accident.

According to the complaint, the accomplice owed Ritchie money relating to the trailer the accomplice lived in. He told the investigator that Ritchie told him to file a false insurance claim or get out of the trailer.

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